Sam McCain

A hippie commune has invaded Black River Falls. While the majority of the townspeople believe that the bohemians have the right to stay-despite how bizarre some of their ways can seem. As always, there is a minority that constantly accuses them of everything from criminal activities to satanism. As usual, lawyer and private investigator Sam McCain finds himself in the middle of the controversy, especially when the teenage daughter of Paul Mainwaring, one of the town's wealthiest men, is found murdered in the commune's barn. A deeply troubled young man, and Vietnam vet named Neil Cameron, is immediately charged with the crime, but Sam has serious doubts. In this lively and poignant new novel, Ed Gorman offers listeners his richest portrait yet about Black River Falls and its people.

In 1967, a brutal murder in the midst of an anti–Vietnam War group sparks an investigation by Sam McCain, in Ed Gorman's most politically charged mystery yet.When we last saw Sam McCain he had been drafted to fight the war in Vietnam. But Sam's military career ended in boot camp when he was accidentally shot in the head and forced to spend three months in a military hospital to recover.Sam has now returned to his hometown of Black River Falls, where he works as a lawyer and part-time investigator for the court of the snobbish but amusing Judge Esme Whitney.Two of Sam's oldest friends are caught up in the same battle. Veteran Steve Donovan brutally belittles and finally savagely beats his old friend, veteran Will Cullen, when Cullen announces he's joined the antiwar group.When Cullen is found murdered, the obvious suspect is Steve Donovan, but Sam has serious doubts about the man's guilt. At least three people had reasons to murder Cullen, and Sam begins to suspect he'll discover even more as his investigation heats up, in this dynamic new politically charged mystery novel by a veteran of the form.